Station indicator



March 26, 1929. c. DUNN STATION INDICATOR Filed July '7, 1927 Ibn/"53 17mm Patented Mar. Z6, 1929. 7

PATENT OFFICE.V

I CHRIST DUNN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

STATION INDICATOR.

Application ined July 7,

This invention relates to station indicators. i p

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of station indicator which may be used with street cars, for instance, to indicate the station the car is approaching, and which is so constructed that it is semi-automatic Vin its action and-controlled by the motorman by means of a manually operable switch, so that the actuation of the indicator is initiated by the motorman and is arrested in an automatic manner.

4Further objects are to provide a simple type of motor driven .indicator which is readily controlled Yfrom ajremote point, and which is provided with an indicator adjacent the remote point of control to show the condition of the motor circuit.

Further objects are to provide a simple type of reverse winding mechanism `which may be readily operated to rewind the indicating strip.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view'ot the device, such view being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; y

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the wiring circuits. i

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the indicator comprises a casing 1 which may be attached within the car, preferably adjacent the front end within l'ull view of all the occupants. This casing is provided with. a window 2 in its front through which the successive displayed legends may appear. The legends 3 are formed upon a strip 4 which is carried by a lower drum 5 and an upper drum 6. The lower drum is loose upon the shaft 7 and the upper drum is either loose or fast upon the shaft 8. The drums are provided with clutch members 9 and 10, respectively, which are rigid therewith and are adapted to cooperate with similar clutch members 11 and 12. The clutch members 11 and 12 are provided with grooves within which projections carried by the Jforked end of a lever 13 fit. This lever is pivoted, as indicated at 14, intermediate its ends and is urged by means of the spring 15 into the position shown in Figure 1. The clutch member 1l is slidably splined upon the shaft 7, and it is to be noted that the shaft 7 is provided with a worm wheel 1927. :serial` No. 204,073.

16 cooperating with a worm 17 formed on the shaft o1 a small electric motor 18. l

The clutch member 12 is rigid with a sleeve 19 which in turn is rigid with a crank 20. lVhen it is desired to reverse the winding of the strip, that is to say, to rewind and set the device in its initial condition, all that is necessary is to press the crank 20 inwardly and rotate it. The inward motion of the crank couples the clutch members 10 and 12 so that the upper clutch is closed. The lower clutch is open due to `the action oi the lever 13, as is obvious from an inspection of Figure 1. The rewinding may be readily effected by merely rotating the crank while it is held inwardly. After rewinding, the cranlris merely released, the

spring 15 throwing the parts into the position shown in Figure 1.

It 1s tobe noted that one face o1 the drum 5 carries a projecting pin 21 (see Figures 1 and 3) which contacts with an insulated portion 22 of a lever 23. This portion 22 is Valso cam shaped, as shown in Figure 3, and the upper end of the lever carries a `movable contact member 24. A stationary contact 25 is placed in the path ot' movement-o1 the cont-act24. A spring `26 is provided for urging the lever 23 towards contact` closing position. i The direction of rotation of' the drum 5 is indicated in Figure 3. j l

Adjacent the controller, or in any place within easy access o1 the n'iotorman, a switch 27 is positioned and is connected to one ot the supply mains 2S. The other side of the switch is connected by means of the conductor 29 to a small lamp 30 positioned adjacent the motorman. From this lamp a conductor 31 extends to the motor 13. A return conductor 32 extends from the other side of the motor to the other supply main 33. It is to be noted that the contact 25 connected to the main 28 by means oi the conductor 24 and that the other contact 24 is connected by means of the conductor 35 to the conductor 29. The purpose oit this arrangement will immediately appear.

Assume that the car approaching a station and the motorman desires to change the sign. All that is necessary is to temporarily close the switch 27 and current will flow through the lamp 30 and through `the motor 18. It is not necessary to hold the switch closed until the desired sign appears and the motorman may immediately release the switch ai'ter initiating the operation of the device. It is Yto be noted' that after a very brief interval the v'pin 21 rides clear ot the cam portion 22 of the lever and allows the V,contacts to close, thus forming a bridge circuit around the switch 27 and allowing the motor tov continue to operate. VVl'ien the motor has rotated the drum one turn., the pin 2l strikes the arm 22 and opens the contacts and thus arrests l'further motion of the'device. It is to noted also that the cam portion 22.01 the spring urged lever .acts jas a 'break Ytoarrest the motion of the Y drumvv and' aidin thel quick stopping of the Y sheet 4.

apparatus at the desired point. Y

Y [t is to befnoted' alsofthat although the Wound portions of the v'strip may vary the eiectivediameters soV that slight dieren'ce i resistance to overrunnin'g 'ofthe drumwhen Vthe motor circuit is automatically open thereby securing a qluickV stopping 'ofthe apparatus at the exact point desired. y

Rewindin'gjof the apparatus is easily accomplished as previously described by merely pressing the crank 20 inwardly and rrotating it. y y y c f K Itis tofber'noted also that 'the lamp 530 apprises the vrnotornianfof the conditionof the y lmotor circuit so that he may know lat a `glance whether thefmotorvi's"supplied with energyV or not.

y It will be seen therefore that a very simple type oi station indicator has been provided, which is ot eminently practical construction and which may be readily produced and easily operated.

Further, it is to be noted that the device has relatively iew parts and is free from delicate andv easily destroyed mechanisms.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rat-her than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim: l A station indicating device comprising a casing provided with a window, a motor carried wit-hin said casing and having a shaft, a pair of drums mounted Within said casing, a. pair of shafts `loosely carrying said drums and spaced apart, reduction mechanism con necting said motor shaft wit-'h one of said shafts, a clutch member slidabiy splined upon the shaft connected to said reduction mechanism, a sleeve slidable upon the other shaft and having a clutch member thereon, a crank connected to said sleeve, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and connected at its ends to said clutch members, said drums each having lclutch members cooperating with said first mentioned dutch members, and an insignia carrying tape wound upon said drums and adapted to pass said windows.

In testimony that I Aclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county oi Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin. i

CHRIST DUNN. 

